Poetry Pea - haiku and other English Language Japanese short forms

This week on Poetry Pea Summer Classics, we're revisiting one of the most joyful forms of Japanese linked verse: renku.
Sit back and enjoy readings of three collaborative renku created by members of the Poetry Pea community: Drinking Moonrise, Wing to Wing, and Spring Table. These beautifully crafted linked poems demonstrate how individual voices can come together to create something richer than the sum of their parts.
If today's episode inspires you, you'll find these renku, along with many more haiku, senryu, tanka and haibun, in the Poetry Pea Journal back catalogue. Links are in the show notes.
Get involved with the Poetry Pea Video Prompt
Have you written your poem yet? Every month there’s a brand-new Poetry Pea Video Prompt to spark your creativity. To submit your poem, simply leave it in the comments beneath the YouTube Video Prompt. If your poem isn't in the comments, it hasn't been entered for consideration. If our guest editor selects your poem/s they’ll be published in a future Poetry Pea Journal and featured in a podcast episode.
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Thank you for listening and for being part of Poetry Pea. Keep writing!

Take a journey into the beautifully observed world of poet Vandana Parashar in this Poetry Pea Summer Classic. Originally recorded as part of our popular reading series, Vandana reads from her acclaimed collection Alone, I Am Not, sharing poems rich in humanity, quiet insight and the extraordinary moments hidden within everyday life.
We also celebrate the publication of her more recent collection, We, the People, a book that continues her thoughtful exploration of the lives we share. Check out the link in the show notes.
Whether you're discovering Vandana's work for the first time or returning to enjoy it again, this episode is a reminder of why her poetry resonates with readers around the world.
In this episode:
• Vandana Parashar reads from Alone, I Am Not
🎥 Join this month's Poetry Pea Video Prompt on YouTube. Watch our guest editor's short film, write a haiku, senryū or tanka inspired by it, and post your poem in the comments. Selected poems may be featured in a future Poetry Pea Journal and read on the podcast.
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Join us for a special summer replay of the Poetry Pea Podcast featuring award-winning haiku poet David J Kelly reading from his acclaimed collection small hadron divider, a Touchstone Distinguished Books Honourable Mention.
In this thoughtful and engaging episode, David explores the fascinating meeting point of science and poetry. Inspired by the six flavours of quarks and the forces that bind the universe together, small hadron divider is a collection that reveals the extraordinary within the everyday. Hear David read from the book and talk about the ideas, craft and curiosity that shaped this remarkable work.
Whether you're discovering David's poetry for the first time or returning to a favourite episode, this replay offers an inspiring glimpse into contemporary English-language haiku at its finest.
While you're listening, why not visit the Poetry Pea YouTube channel and take part in this month's Video Prompt? Every month poets from around the world write haiku inspired by a short film. Simply leave your poem in the comments beneath the Video Prompt video. Selected poems may be featured in a future Poetry Pea Journal and on a forthcoming podcast.
If you enjoy what we do, please consider supporting Poetry Pea. Your membership or donation helps us continue producing free weekly podcasts, publishing the Poetry Pea Journal, hosting online readings and workshops, and celebrating the wonderful world of haiku. You can support us by becoming a member or by buying us a coffee. Every contribution, however small, helps keep Poetry Pea growing.
Thank you for listening, and happy writing!

In this special summer replay, Patricia McGuire welcomes acclaimed haiku poet Tyrone McDonald for a memorable Poetry Pea reading and conversation.
Tyrone's haiku explore family, identity, race, music, memory and the natural world with remarkable clarity and emotional depth. From the unforgettable morning fog / when my embryo... had gills to poems of jazz, gratitude, homecoming and history, his work demonstrates the power of the short poetic forms.
Along the way, we consider Ferris Gilli's thoughts on resonance in haiku and hear Etheridge Knight's famous observation that making jazz swing in seventeen syllables "ain't no square poet's job."
Whether you're discovering Tyrone McDonald for the first time or revisiting this Poetry Pea favourite, this episode offers a masterclass in contemporary English-language haiku and the quiet power of saying just enough.
In this episode:
• Tyrone McDonald reads a selection of his published haiku
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This week on Poetry Pea, we're revisiting one of the highlights from our much-loved reading series.
Join acclaimed poet Lorraine Padden as she reads from her beautiful collection Upwelling, sharing poems rich in observation, memory and the quiet moments that so often inspire haiku and related forms.
Whether you're discovering Lorraine's work for the first time or returning to this favourite episode, it's the perfect opportunity to enjoy a thoughtful poetry reading and celebrate the craft of concise, image-rich writing.
As Poetry Pea takes a gentle summer stroll through the archives, we're delighted to bring this memorable reading back to you.
If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, leave a review, and share it with your poetry-loving friends. Your support helps Poetry Pea continue to champion haiku, senryū, tanka and haibun from poets around the world.